Summer
Dec → Feb29 to 30°
nights 14 to 16°
- 1 rainy days · 7 mm
- 13.2 h of sun
- sea 15°
When is the best time to visit Chile?
- Jan30°recommended
- Feb29°recommended
- Mar28°recommended
- Apr23°fair
- May19°not recommended
- Jun16°not recommended
- Jul15°not recommended
- Aug16°not recommended
- Sep19°fair
- Oct22°recommended
- Nov26°recommended
- Dec29°recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Chile, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30° | 16° | 13.4 h | 9 mm | 1 d | 15° | ✓ |
| February | 29° | 16° | 12.7 h | 5 mm | 1 d | 17° | ✓ |
| March | 28° | 15° | 11.6 h | 3 mm | 1 d | 16° | ✓ |
| April | 23° | 12° | 9.7 h | 33 mm | 2 d | 14° | |
| May | 19° | 9° | 8 h | 36 mm | 5 d | 13° | |
| June | 16° | 7° | 6.8 h | 79 mm | 6 d | 13° | |
| July | 15° | 6° | 7.6 h | 56 mm | 5 d | 12° | |
| August | 16° | 7° | 8.4 h | 67 mm | 6 d | 13° | |
| September | 19° | 8° | 9.2 h | 40 mm | 6 d | 12° | |
| October | 22° | 10° | 11 h | 36 mm | 5 d | 13° | ✓ |
| November | 26° | 12° | 12.3 h | 12 mm | 2 d | 13° | ✓ |
| December | 29° | 14° | 13.5 h | 6 mm | 1 d | 13° | ✓ |
The four seasons in Chile, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Santiago) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May19 to 28°
nights 9 to 15°
- 3 rainy days · 24 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 14°
Winter
Jun → Aug15 to 16°
nights 6 to 7°
- 6 rainy days · 67 mm
- 7.6 h of sun
- sea 13°
Spring
Sep → Nov19 to 26°
nights 8 to 12°
- 4 rainy days · 29 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
- sea 13°
Book early for October to March
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Chile, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In December there are 14h21 of daylight, in June 9h57, a difference of 4h25.
14h08Jan
13h20Feb
12h23Mar
11h18Apr
10h25May
9h57Jun
10h08Jul
10h54Aug
11h56Sep
12h59Oct
13h55Nov
14h21Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Santiago" (-33.45°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Chile, month by month
EventsFiestas PatriasSeptemberTapati Rapa NuiFebruaryFiesta de La TiranaJulyCentral Valley grape harvestMarch to AprilDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Towns & culture: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
- Long days: January, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in Chile, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- SeptemberFiestas Patrias big crowds
The country stops for two days around 18 September, with cueca, empanadas and fondas, festive tents set up in city parks.
- FebruaryTapati Rapa Nui big crowds
Easter Island competes in traditional events, including banana-trunk sledding and canoe races, for two weeks.
- JulyFiesta de La Tirana big crowds
Thousands of masked dancers whirl in front of the sanctuary of a village in the Tarapacá desert, in mid-July.
- March to AprilCentral Valley grape harvest
The estates of Colchagua, Maipo and Casablanca open their vats and hold their wine festivals during the harvest.
Travelling off-peak
When to visit Chile, region by region
A country's best time is an average, and it hides big differences. Here is what the records say for each area, month by month: ✓ for a recommended month, ~ for a fair one, a dot for a month to avoid. Hover over a cell for the temperature.
| Area | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇱 Easter Island | ~ | ~ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 🇨🇱 The Atacama Desert | · | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | ~ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ |
| 🇨🇱 Chiloé | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | · | · | · | · | · | · | ~ | ✓ |
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended30°16° at night
- 9 mm · 1 d
- 13.4 h
- sea 15°
High season, book early
February
Recommended29°16° at night
- 5 mm · 1 d
- 12.7 h
- sea 17°
High season, book early
March
Recommended28°15° at night
- 3 mm · 1 d
- 11.6 h
- sea 16°
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair23°12° at night
- 33 mm · 2 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 14°
Low season, lower prices
May
Not recommended19°9° at night
- 36 mm · 5 d
- 8 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
June
Not recommended16°7° at night
- 79 mm · 6 d
- 6.8 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended15°6° at night
- 56 mm · 5 d
- 7.6 h
- sea 12°
Busy, without the crush
August
Not recommended16°7° at night
- 67 mm · 6 d
- 8.4 h
- sea 13°
Low season, lower prices
September
Fair19°8° at night
- 40 mm · 6 d
- 9.2 h
- sea 12°
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended22°10° at night
- 36 mm · 5 d
- 11 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
November
Recommended26°12° at night
- 12 mm · 2 d
- 12.3 h
- sea 13°
Busy, without the crush
December
Recommended29°14° at night
- 6 mm · 1 d
- 13.5 h
- sea 13°
High season, book early
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 30 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 13.4 h a day on average. Sea at 15 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
February. 29 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Hardly any rain (5 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 12.7 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
March. 28 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Hardly any rain (3 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (33 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. Sea at 14 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 5 days. Expect 8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Cool: 16 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 79 mm over 6 days. Expect 6.8 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Cool: 15 °C at best, 6 °C at night. Rain stays light: 56 mm over 5 days. Expect 7.6 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Cool: 16 °C at best, 7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 67 mm over 6 days. Expect 8.4 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
September. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 8 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 40 mm over 6 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.2 h a day on average. Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 5 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
November. 26 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C at night. Hardly any rain (12 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
December. 29 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Hardly any rain (6 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 13.5 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Chile?
October to March: over these months, recorded highs range from 22 to 30 °C, with 2 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Santiago).
Which month should you avoid in Chile?
June: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 79 mm over 6 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Santiago).
What is the hottest month in Chile?
January, with 30 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Santiago).
What is the coldest month in Chile?
July, with 15 °C at best during the day and 6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Santiago).
What is the driest month in Chile?
March: 3 mm over 1 day of rain, against 79 mm in June, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Chile?
December, with 13.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Chile?
The gap between day and night reaches 15 °C in December: 29 °C in the afternoon, 14 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When can you swim in Chile?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 17 °C in February, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Valparaíso): swimming is for the brave.
When is the best time to hike in Chile?
February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Santiago), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Chile guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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